Trunk lock



May 25 x 1965 w. E. ATKINSQN 3,184,935

TRUNK Loox Filed Oct. l, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l fw 2 /yz m :f 27 lt ".33 u 'lu "y 16 f- 44 l "579' /OZ INVENTOR Walldl'msozz/ May 25, 1965 w. E. ArxlNsoN 3,184,935

TRUNK LOCK Filed oct. 1, 196s 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR BY Wm Wmm United States Patent O 3,184,935 TRUNK LOCK Wallace E. Atkinson, Petersburg, Vat, assigner te Long D'anufacturing Company Inca, Petersburg, Va., a corporation ot Virginia Filed Oct. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 312,972 3 Claims. (Cl. '7il-75) The present invention relates in general to trunk locks and more particularly to trunk locks of the type having facilities for manual release of the lock from latched condition without the use of a key and which requires a key to secure the same in locked condition.

Heretofore, it has been customary for trunk locks to close automatically. That is to say, the bolts or plungers on the hasp of the trunk lock are customarily spring loaded and bevelled so that the locking mechanism, when mated with its latching or keeper plate, locks itself by engaging the plungers or bolts in corresponding slots or holes in the latching plate. In such an arrangement, a key must be used in order to open the lock. This construction or trunk locks has been inconvenient to both the retailer and to the consumer, usually due to the fact that a key is required each time it is desired to open the trunk. Often the key is found to be inside the trunk, necessitating the production of duplicate keys or forcing of the lock to gain access to the trunk. When trunks having such conventional trunk locks are stored or displayed in retail establishments, the keys are usually attached by string to the trunk handle and a significant proportion of such keys become detached and lost from their associated trunks through accident or pilfering. Also at the retail level, the keys attached by string to the trunk handle are frequently placed through careless handling on the inside of the trunk, thus producing a lock out.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a novel trunk lock wherein the lock may be opened from an automatic latched condition Without the use of the key.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel trunk lock having a pair of spring loaded bevelled bolts or plungers on a hinged hasp which automatically latch with a co-operating latching plate when the hasp is moved to a latched position, but, which may be readily unlocked without a key by means of a manually operable element which may be normally disposed in a folded, nonprotruding position on the hasp.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel trunk lock of the type described in the immediately preceding paragraph wherein a key is needed to lock the mechanism against unauthorized opening.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the acoompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a trunk lock embodying the present invention shown in position on a segment of a trunk;

FIGURE 2 is a section View thereof taken line 2 2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the lock supporting portion `of the hasp with the lock mechanism casing removed;

FIGURE 4 is a section View of the lock mechanism casing and internal components thereof taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2; and

along the 7 FIGURE 5 is an exposed perspective view of the lock mechanism portion of the hasp.

3,l84,935 Patented May 25, 1965 ICC Referring to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, the trunk lock of the present invention is indicated in general by the reference character 10 and includes a latching plate or keeper plate 11 of conventional conguration adapted to be aixed to one of the separable trunk sections, for example the trunk cover or lid 12, and having the usual raised annular Wall portion 13 terminating in a peripheral rim 14 bounding the keeper opening 1S, and also including in the embodiment herein illustrated a padlock staple 16. Cooperating with the latching plate 11 is a hasp assembly 17 of generally conventional conguration including an attaching plate 1S adapted to be afxed to the other separable trunk section, for example the trunk body 19, has a hasp member 2l) connected by means of a conventional hinge connection 2l to the attaching plate 18. The hinge connection 21, may, for example, be formed by a pair of laterally spaced knuckle formations 22 on the hasp member 20 laterally flanking an open 23, coacting with a loop or bead 24 on the attaching plate 1S having a width complementing the opening 23 and extending between the knuckle formations 22, to receive a hinge pin 25.

The hasp member 20 has an elongated opening 26 intermediate its length to receive the padlock staple 16 therethrough and has a latch mechanism generally designated by the reference character 27 adjacent the enlarged end portion 28 of the hasp member 20 which overlies the keeper opening 1S and bounding portions of wall 13 of the latching plate 11 when the trunk lock is in a closed position. The latch mechanism 27 includes a pair of aligned bolts or plnngers 29, 29' having bevelled end portions 30, 30' projecting through diametrically opposite openings 31, 31 in the cylindrical wall 32 of the bolt housing 33. The housing 33 is in a cup shaped body which projects inwardly toward the trunk from the enlarged end portion 28 of hasp member 20 to be received within the keeper opening 15. The bolts 29, 29 are guided for movement along axes paralleling a diameter of the bolt housing 33 by sliding engagement of the lateral edges of the bolt end portions 30, 30 with the lateral edges of the openings 31, 3l' and by pin like projections 34, 3d on the opposite or radially inward ends of the bolts 29, Z9 extending into slots 35, 35 in the circular rear wall 36 of the bolt housing 33. Bolts 29, 29' are continuously urged radially outwardly by the spring 37 and are limited in their outward movement by engagement of shoulders at appropriate points along the slide of the bolts with the lateral edges of the bolt openings 31, 31 in the cylinder wall 32.

An actuator disc 3S lies forwardly of the bolts 29, 29 within the bolt housing 33 and has a diameter corresponding substantially to the inner diameter of the cylindrical wall 32 of bolt housing 33 to rotatably support the disc in concentric relation with the bolt housing 33. The disc 3S has a pair of eccentric drive pins 39, 39 projecting into aligned sockets 4t2, 4% of the bolts 29, 29' to force the bolts radially inwardly against the force of the spring 37 when the actuator disc 3S is rotated through a selected arc from its normal position. Diametrically opposite peripheral notches 41, 41 are provided along the edge of the actuator disc 3S to -receive inwardly projecting lugs 42, 42 of a key cylinder member 43 projecting through and journalled in a suitable aperture 28 in the enlarged portion 28 of :the hasp member 2t) to couple the disc 38 and member 43 for corresponding rotation. The key cylinder member 43 is a generally cup-shaped rearwardly opening body including a front wall 44 having 0 a key opening 45 therein, and an annular rearwardly projecting flange lo having a portion lying externally of the hasp member and an enlarged rim 47 located internally iii-3 of the hasp member and forming a shoulder bearing against the portion of the hasp member bounding the opening 28 to restrain the member 43 in position.

The key cylinder member 43 houses a locking bar 43 supported for movement diametrically of the key cylinder member 43 and having a locking extension 49 at one end located through peripheral opening Sti in the rim 47 of the member 43 and shoulder formation 5l at the opposite end of the bar 48 coacting with the edge of the opposite peripheral opening 52 in the -rim 47 of the member 43 to locate the locking bar 48 in the unlocked position illustrated in solid lines in FIGURE 3 or the locked posi-tion illustrated in broken lines in FlGURE 3. A spring 53 urges the shoulder formation 51 against the working edge of the peripheral opening 52 to restrain the locking bar in the position to which it is adjusted by a key inserted through the key opening 45. The locking bar 48 has the usual key follower surfaces 54 and the locking extension 49 thereof is projectable in the locked position to the locking bar 48 through constricted portion 31a of bolt opening 3i. As the bolt housing 33 is xed to the hasp member 20, as by the usual mounting lugs indicated at 32 projecting through aligned slo=ts in the hasp member 20 and deformed or expanded to form a suitable mounting, the locking extension 49 of the locking bar 48 when in the projected position indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 3 enters the constructed portion 31a of opening 3i and prevents rotation of the key cylinder member 43, thus preventing any rotation of the actuator disc 38 to withdraw the bolts 29, 29 inwardly to an unlocking position.

When, however, the locking bar 48 is in its normal unlocking position illustrated in solid lines, the locking extension 49 is withdrawn inwardly of the opening 3i so that the key cylinder member 43 is free to rotate. To facilitate manual rotation of the key cylinder member 43, an operating loop or bail 55 having arcuate portion 56 of slightly greater radius than the key cylinder member 43 and inwardly projecting trunions 57 extending into diametrically opposite openings of the key cylinder member 43 is assembled with the latter. This operating bail 55 normally occupies a folded position against the front surface of the hasp member 2d so that it does not project outwardly from the hasp to a position where it might accidentally catch on other objects or produce any inconvenience. However, when it is desired to manually unlock the trunk lock, the operating bail 55 may be pivoted outwardly about a pivot axis estabished by trunnions 57 and then be rotated by the hand of the user about the rotary axis of the key cylinder member to manipulate the latter. Rotation of the key cylindermember 43, through the lugs 42, 42 entering peripheral notches 41, 41 of the actuator disc 38, rotates the actuator disc and its drive pins 39, 39 to withdraw the bolts 29, 29 from behind the rim 14 of the keeper opening l5, thus freeing the hasp member 20 for opening movement about about the hinge connection 2l.

To move the trunk lock to a latched condition, the operator merely pivots hasp member 2G- about hinge 2i in a direction to project the bolt housing 33 into the keeper opening 1S, during which the bevelled ends 3Q, 30 of the bolts abut the rim 14 and cam inwardly and then snap outwardly underneath rim i4. The trunk lock may be locked in this latched position when desired by inserting the appropriate key in the key opening 35 and rotating the same through an appropriate range to shift locking bar 48 from the solid line position illustrated in FIGURE 4 to the broken line position wherein the locking extension 49 projects into the `constructed portion 31a of bolt opening 31.

While but one preferred example of the present invention has been particularly shown and described, it is apparent that various modifications may be made therein within the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations be placed on the invention as are imposed by the prior art and set forth in the appended claims.

In the claims:

i. A lock for trunks or the like, comprising a latching plate for attachment to one of the relatively moveable parts of the trunk having a circular keeper opening therein, a hasp assembly having an attachment plate to be amxed to the other of the relatively moveable parts of the trunk, a hasp member hingedly connected to said attaclment plate having a free end portion adapted to overlic parts of the latching plate when in mated position, a hollow cylindrical bolt housing of cup-shaped conguration ixed to and projecting rearwardly of said hasp member to nest in said keeper opening when said hasp member and latching plate assume said mated position, said bolt housing including a cylindrical wall having a pair of diametrically opposite bolt openings therein, a pair of latching bolt members supported in said bolt housing for movement along axes paralleling a diameter of the bolt housing and continuously spring biased to project end portions thereof through said bolt openings to automatically interlock with shoulder portions surrounding said keeper opening in said latching plate when projected into the same, rotatable actuator means including a cylindrical portion journaled on said hasp member and rotatable about a selected axis adapted to be aligned with the axis of said keeper opening when the hasp member is in mated position having means intercoupled with said latching bolt members to withdraw said bolt members to an unlocked position upon rotation of said actuator means through a selected arc, said cylindrical portion having a handle portion located externally of the hasp member to be grasped and manipulated by the user for manual rotation of the actuator means, and a locking bar slidably supported by said actuator means against rotation relative thereto within said bolt housing for reciprocative movement diametrically of the bolt housing and operable by a key to assume a position projecting an end portion ot said locking bar into one of said bolt openings for interlocking said actuator means with said hasp member against relative rotation to prevent manipulation forcing said bolt members to unlatched position.

2. A lock for trunks or the like, comprising a latcliing plate for attachment to one of the relatively moveable parts of the trunk having a circular keeper opening therein, a hasp assembly having an attachment plate to be aixed to the other of the relatively moveable parts of the trunk, a hasp member hingedly connected to said attachment plate having a free end portion adapted to overlie parts of the latching plate when in mated position, a hollow cylindrical bolt housing of cup-shaped configuration xed to and projecting rearwardly of said hasp member to nest in said keeper opening when said hasp member and latching plate assume said mated position, said bolt housing including a cylindrical wall having a pair of diametrically opposite bolt openings therein, a pair or" latching bolt members supported in said bolt housing for movement along axes paralleling a diameter ot the bolt housing and continuously spring biased to project end portions thereof through said bolt openings to automatically interlock with shoulder portions surrounding said keeper opening in said latching plate when projected into the same, a rotatable drive disc carried within said bolt housing -by said hasp member and rotatable about a selected axis adapted to be aligned with the axis of said keeper opening when the hasp member is in mated position having a pair of diametrically opposite peripheral notches therein and having eccentric drive elements thereon intercoupled with said latching bolt members to withdraw said bolt members to a release position relative to said shoulder portions upon rotation of said drive disc through a selected arc, and a manually operable cylinder member supported in axial alignment with said drive disc for rotation on said hasp member having a circular lip portion located inwardly of the hasp member within said bolt housing and an outer cylindrical portion lying externally of the hasp member, said circular lip portion having a pair of diametrically opposite peripheral recesses and a pair of rearwardly projecting lugs interltting into the peripheral notches of said drive disc for rotating the drive disc through said selected arc upon rotation of the cylinder member, and handle means coupled to said outer cylindrical portion of said cylinder member located externally of the hasp member to be grasped and manipulated by the user for manual rotation of the cylinder member.

3. A lock for trunks or the like, comprising a latching plate for attachment to one of the relatively moveable parts of the trunk having a circular keeper opening therein, a hasp assembly having an attachment plate to be aixed to the other of the relatively moveable parts of the trunk, a hasp member hingedly connected to said attachment plate having a free end portion adapted to overlie parts of the latching plate when in mated position, a hollow cylindrical bolt housing of cup-shaped configuration ixed to and projecting rearwardly of said hasp member to nest in said keeper opening when said hasp member and latching plate assume said mated position, said bolt housing including a cylindrical wall having a pair of diametrically opposite bolt openings therein, a pair of latching bolt members supported in said bolt housing for movement along axes paralleling a diameter of the bolt housing and continuously spring biased to project end portions thereof through said bolt openings to automatically interlock with shoulder portions surrounding said keeper opening in said latching plate when projected into the same, a rotatable drive disc carried within said bolt housing by said hasp member and rotatable about a selected axis adapted to be aligned with the axis of said keeper opening when the hasp member is in mated position having a pair of diametrically opposite peripheral notches therein and having eccentric drive elements thereon intercoupled with said latching bolt members to withdraw said bolt members to a release position relative to said shoulder portions upon rotation of said drive disc through a selected arc, a manually operable cylinder member supported in axial alignment with said drive disc for rotation on said hasp member having a circular lip portion located inwardly of the hasp member within said bolt housing and an outer cylindrical portion lying eX- ternally of the hasp member, said circular lip portion having a pair of diametrically opposite peripheral recesses and a pair of rearwardly projecting lugs intertting into the peripheral notches of said drive disc for rotating the drive disc through said selected arc upon rotation of the cylinder member, handle means coupled to said outer cylindrical portion of said cylinder member located externally of the hasp member to be grasped and manipulated by the user for manual rotation of the cylinder member, and a locking bar slidably supported in said peripheral recesses of the circular lip portion of said cylinder member against rotation relative to the latter and accommodating reciprocative movement of the locking bar diametrically of the bolt housing, at least one of said bolt openings in said bolt housing having an extension for receiving an end portion of said locking bar, and said locking bar being operable by a key to assume a position projecting said end portion of said locking bar into said extension for interlocking said cylinder member with said hasp member against relative rotation to prevent manipulation forcing said bolt members to 11nlatched position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 663,413 12/00 Bernstein 70-75 802,240 10/05 Salviolo 70--75 885,214 4/08 Aliano 70-75 1,083,720 l/14 Aliano 70-75 2,730,390 l/ 56 Atkinson 70-69 2,938,371 5/60 Check 70-75 DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

BOBBY R. GAY, Examiner. 

1. A LOCK FOR TRUNKS OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING A LATCHING PLATE FOR ATTACHMENT TO ONE OF THE RELATIVELY MOVEABLE PARTS OF THE TRUNK HAVING A CIRCULAR KEEPER OPENING THEREIN, A HASP ASSEMBLY HAVING AN ATTACHMENT PLATE TO BE AFFIXED TO THE OTHER OF THE RELATIVELY MOVEABLE PARTS OF THE TRUNK, A HASP MEMBER HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID ATTACHMENT PLATE HAVING A FREE END PORTION ADAPTED TO OVERLIE PARTS OF THE LATCHING PLATE WHEN IN MATED POSITION, A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL BOLT HOUSING OF CUP-SHAPED CONFIGURATION FIXED TO AND PROJECTING REAWRWARDLY OF SAID HASP MEMBER TO NEST IN SAID KEEPER OPENING WHEN SAID HASP MEMBER AND LATCHING PLATE ASSUME SADI MATED POSITION, SAID BOLT HOUSING INCLUDING A CYLINDRICAL WALL HAVING A PAIR OF DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE BOLT OPENINGS THEREIN, A PAIR OF LATCHING BOLT MEMBERS SUPPORTED IN SAID BOLT HOUSING FOR MOVEMENT ALONG AXES PARALLELING A DIAMETER OF THE BOLT HOUSING AND CONTINUOUSLY SPRING BIASED TO PROJECT END PORTIONS THEREOF THROUGH SAID BOLT OPENINGS TO AUTOMATICALLY INTERLOCK WITH SHOULDER PORTIONS SURROUNDING SAID KEEPER OPENING IN SAID LATCHING PLATE WHEN PROJECTED INTO THE SAME, ROTATABLE ACTUATOR MEANS INCLUDING A CYLINDRICAL PORTION JOURNALED ON SAID HASP MEMBER AND ROTATABLE ABOUT A SELECTED AXIS ADAPTED TO BE ALIGNED WITH THE AXIS OF SAID KEEPER OPENING WHEN THE HASP MEMBER IS IN MATED POSITION HAVING MEANS INTERCOUPLED WITH SAID LATCHING BOLT MEMBERS TO WITHDRAW SAID BOLT MEMBERS TO AN UNLOCKED POSITION UPON ROTATION OF SAID ACTUATOR MEANS THROUGH A SELECTED ARC, SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION HAVING A HANDLE PORTION LOCATED EXTERNALLY OF THE HASP MEMBER TO BE GRASPED AND MANIPULATED BY THE USER FOR MANUAL ROTATION OF THE ACTUATOR MEANS, AND A LOCKING BAR SLIDABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID ACTUATOR MEANS AGAINST ROTATION RELATIVE THERETO WITHIN SAID BOLT HOUSING FOR RECIPROCATIVE MOVEMENT DIAMETRICALLY OF THE BOLT HOUSING AND OPERABLE BY A KEY TO ASSUME A POSITION PROJECTING AN END PORTION OF SAID LOCKING BAR INTO ONE OF SAID BOLT OPENINGS FOR INTERLOCKING SAID ACTUATOR MEANS WITH SAID HASP MEMBER AGAINST RELATIVE ROTATION TO PREVENT MANIPULATION FORCING SAID BOLT MEMBERS TO UNLATCHED POSITION. 